David Dimbleby is to anchor the BBC's coverage of Lady Thatcher's funeral ceremony next week, the corporation has announced.

The veteran broadcaster has been chosen to front the coverage from St Paul's Cathedral in London on the morning of Wednesday 17 April.

He will present a three-hour special starting on BBC1 at 9.15am with the funeral procession leaving the Palace of Westminster to the end of the service at St Paul's Cathedral.

Other broadcasters for the coverage, titled The Funeral of Baroness Thatcher, are yet to be confirmed.

One BBC insider said Dimbleby, who has fronted coverage of major national events for the corporation for three decades, was always destined to be the host for Thatcher's funeral.

He was widely expected to be trusted with the occasion, having led the BBC's coverage of Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, the Queen Mother's funeral in 2001, and the Queen's golden jubilee celebrations in 2012.

Some eyebrows were raised when he was omitted from the BBC's coverage of the royal wedding in 2011, as Huw Edwards was chosen instead.

Thatcher's funeral will have full military honours, Downing Street confirmed on Tuesday, with the same status as the ceremonies of Princess Diana and the Queen Mother. A ceremonial funeral is one rung down from a state funeral – normally reserved for monarchs – and requires the consent of the Queen.

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